On April 7th, 2020, I got scammed $10,875 on Alibaba.com.
I had just finished placing a herculean order of face masks, disposable latex gloves and hand sanitizer with Fujian Golden Gate Trading Company Ltd. Communication had been smooth and reassuring up until the wire transfer had gone through.
Yes, I know. I should've known better. But hey, this was back when we thought COVID was the Wuhan plague coming to claim the soul of every N95 maskless man, woman and child on the western hemisphere. Like every great entrepreneur, I recognized a universal need and rose to the occasion to fulfill that need with warpspeed efficiency. But, as you would accurately presume, my stratospheric aspirations proved to be nothing more than a $10,875 free fall without a parachute.
Keep in mind, this was back during the panic-stricken shuffle of March and April of 2020. when I unboxed the massive order the UPS truck left at my doorstep, I was immediately consumed by feelings of betrayal and loss. Staring at the 5 large shipping boxing stuffed with fat yellow packing peanuts and a few empty face mask boxes crushed underneath, I came to the sad realization that far too many entrepreneurs experience - I had been sold a lie. The phone call I had with the manager at my neighborhood pharmacy explaining that I wouldn't be able deliver the goods to them that afternoon was just as soul crushing. Not only was I was in the hole over $10K, had no product to show for it, but I had also committed the small business cardinal sin - failing to keep my promise to the customer.
What did I learn from that experience?
Before you buy, THINK! Sourcing product from reliable suppliers is a fine art - one that requires careful planning, a risk aversive mindset, nimble negotiation skills, and thorough background checks. Still, even with considerable due diligence, sourcing new products is just tricky. That's why I created this site - a secure landing pad to ensure your next product launch delivers on it's sourcing promises and makes it straight to the moon.
Dog walking service available from: 8am–6pm, Monday through Saturday
Pet sitting service available at: [ address ]
Phone: [ phone number ]
Email: [ email address ]
Follow me: [ social media handle ]